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General Contractor
Total cost: $250
Governing Authority
SC Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) and SC Residential Builders Commission (RBC)
Official website →Yes
License Required?
4 years
Experience Required
No
Bonding Required?
$250
Total Initial Fees
2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours
Get the South Carolina General Contractor Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
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SC Residential Builders Commission (RBC) license. $5,000 threshold. Requires exam, credit report (unusual requirement), and financial statement. NASCLA accreditation accepted.
Project Limit
RBC license required for residential projects over $5,000
Additional Requirements
Description
SC Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) commercial license. $10,000 threshold. 5 Groups based on project value: Group 1 (Unlimited), Group 2 ($500K-$1M), Group 3 ($200K-$500K), Group 4 ($100K-$200K), Group 5 ($50K-$100K). Exam required via PSI. Financial statement required.
Project Limit
CLB license required for commercial projects over $10,000. 5 Groups based on project value.
Additional Requirements
Description
SC dual-board system: CLB for commercial ($10,000+ threshold, 5 Groups based on project value) and RBC for residential ($5,000+ threshold). CLB Groups: 1 (Unlimited), 2 ($500K-$1M), 3 ($200K-$500K), 4 ($100K-$200K), 5 ($50K-$100K). NASCLA accreditation accepted for CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) and RBC.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $5,000
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty contractor license for South Carolina. Covers specialized trades and construction activities. Categories: Building Construction, Highway Construction, Specialty.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified4
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 4 years of documented experience in the construction trade
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
PSI
Passing Score
70%
Open Book
Yes
Trade Exam Details
PSI-administered exams. Passing scores vary by trade classification. Both CLB and RBC require exams. Exam waivers available for certain trades based on reciprocity or NASCLA accreditation. CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) accepts NASCLA. RBC also accepts NASCLA.
Business & Law Exam Details
Business and law examination covering contract law, lien law, and business management
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the exam after a waiting period. Contact the board for specific retake policies.
Overall licensing difficulty: 12/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
Contractor Licensing Exam
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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General Contractor Licensing Exam
Passing Score
70%
Administered By
PSI
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the General Contractor Licensing Exam.
Study Materials & Exam Prep — Contractor's License Exam
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Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Not Required
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
General liability insurance required per state regulations
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for employers with 4 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
South Carolina requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with 4 or more employees. Sole proprietors may be exempt but coverage is recommended.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $50 |
Exam Fee Per exam attempt | $100 |
License Fee | $100 |
Renewal Fee Per 2 years | $100 |
Total Initial Fees Approximate total of application, exam, and license fees | $250 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$100
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
NASCLA accreditation accepted for CLB Unlimited and RBC
Transfer Details
NASCLA accredited exam accepted for CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) commercial license and RBC residential license. Exam waivers available for certain trade classifications. NC reciprocity exam waiver available. Full application and financial documentation still required.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare South Carolina with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
SC dual-board system (CLB for commercial, RBC for residential). Different thresholds: $10K commercial, $5K residential. RBC requires credit report (unusual). NASCLA accepted for both CLB Unlimited and RBC. 5 commercial Groups by project value.
SC has a DUAL-BOARD system: CLB for commercial ($10,000+ threshold) and RBC for residential ($5,000+ threshold).
CLB has 5 Groups based on project value: 1 (Unlimited), 2 ($500K-$1M), 3 ($200K-$500K), 4 ($100K-$200K), 5 ($50K-$100K).
RBC requires a credit report — unusual requirement not seen in most states.
NASCLA accreditation accepted for both CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) and RBC.
Passing scores vary by trade classification.
Workers' compensation required for 4+ employees in SC.
4 years of experience required.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion
South Carolina construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
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Official Sources
General Contractor requirements in South Carolina verified against SC Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) and SC Residential Builders Commission (RBC), March 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
General Contractor Schools in South Carolina
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.